Landscaping contractor Jenn Nawada teaches host Kevin O’Connor everything he needs to know about home soil test kits. Jenn explains the importance of soil testing, helping Kevin understand that he can’t fix what he doesn’t know about his yard. You Can’t Fix What You Don’t Know For homeowners who want to maintain a lush, green lawn or healthy plants, soil tests are important—after all, they can’t fix what they don’t know....
If your summer garden is looking a bit spent, have a look at these newly released blooming perennials that flower now and right into autumn. 7 Fall Flowers to Plant in Your Garden Updated twists on garden classics from aster to tickseed, these fall plants and flowers offer unusual hues, longer bloom times, or easier care; there’s even a fragrant pachysandra. Many of these fall flowers to plant might still be at your local nursery, or can be ordered online....
A security system will protect your Richmond home whether you are watching television in the living room, asleep in bed, or away on a trip. It comes with a variety of protective devices like security cameras, smoke detectors, and motion sensors so that you can protect every part of your home. To help you find the right system for your home, the This Old House Reviews Team analyzed a variety of home security systems based on factors such as equipment, installation, and pricing....
Candy-Apple-Red Toaster Give respite to late risers by keeping toast, well, toasty on the removable warming rack. Another perk: Check browning without hitting CANCEL with the “lift and look” feature. Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster, $80; Russell Hobbs Baby-Blue Kitchen Timer Under 4 inches tall, it’s just the ticket for adding a hint of mid-century flair. It’s seriously old-school—spin the chrome ring to set. Vintage Streamline Kitchen Timer, $25; Kikkerland Coral Stand Mixer Need an excuse to splurge on a new stand mixer?...
There’s a whole spectrum of paint options, from colors and brands to finishes and formulas. And while picking the just-right shade for your living room or furniture rehab project may be the main thing on your mind, it may also be just as important to consider what the paint is made of. After all, it may contain VOCs—harsh chemicals that could harm your family’s health and the planet. The Components of Paint At its most basic, paint consists of pigments for color and binders (a....
The easiest way to install a backsplash is to use tiling, two-sided adhesive mat, and pre-mixed grout. Using the adhesive mat helps you quickly and accurately put up your tiling. With tile, there are a range options from square tiles to subway tiles, in many different colors, so you can also create the exact look and feel you want in your kitchen. We recommend square tiling for beginners because it’ll be the easiest to cut and align together....
In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey silences a noisy radiator. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Quieting a Steam Radiator: Turn down the room’s thermostat to ensure the heating system doesn’t start up. Use a 48-inch level to check the radiator for level. Use a pipe wrench to loosen the nut holding the radiator to the steam pipe. Lift the low end of the radiator and slip furniture pads under each foot of the radiator....
To help combat package theft, David Allen built a bench with a hinged seat that conceals a compartment with a magnetic, childproof lock. Leave it open for the delivery person; it locks when the lid is closed. Packages are safely stored until you get home! Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Tools & Materials Circular saw Chop saw Jigsaw Brad nailer Cordless drill/driver Pocket hole jig Instructions for building the Anti-Porch Pirate Bench Design by David and Tim Allen Tools needed: Circular saw Chop saw (but can be accomplished with just the circular saw) Jig saw (if you want to round off the front of the arms) Staple gun or brad nailer Drill/driver Pocket screw jig with pocket screws (if you don’t have one, the $25 jig works fine....
Previous episode: S20 E36 | Next episode: S20 E38 In this episode: General contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O’Connor a quick, cheap, and accurate way to space balusters during a railing project. This simple trick involves a trip to the fabric store for an elastic band, a tape measure, and some careful alignment to perfectly place balusters without complicated math and fractions. Next, master electrician, Heath Eastman shows us the trade tricks for drilling holes through studs....
This article appeared in the Nov/Dec 2020 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. Myth #1: Closing forced-air registers in unused rooms saves on heating and cooling costs In fact, the opposite is true. Shutting down the flow of heated or cooled air to a room increases pressure (known as “back pressure”) in a forced-air system, so the blower has to work harder, using more electricity....
If you stand near your sliding glass door or window in the summer and feel like you’re in danger of actually melting, well, you might not even stop to ask, “Is tinting house windows worth it?” and move right into, “Why didn’t I know about this until now!?” If you’re looking for a DIY, or even Do It For Me project, that has all the earmarks of a rapid payback, window tinting is just such a project....
Watch on TV PBS – New episodes generally premiere on Thursday evenings or Saturdays, but local programmers can schedule episodes throughout the week. Check your local listings. Create TV – Like PBS, new episodes generally premiere on Thursdays or Saturdays, but could be scheduled throughout the week. Stream Digitally The Roku Channel – New episodes of the current seasons of This Old House and Ask This Old House are added every Monday for free, on-demand viewing....
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Sponsor: The Ask This Old House Podcast 2020 Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) is sponsored by Leviton and This Old House Ventures, LLC, 262 Harbor Drive, Stamford, CT 06902 (“Sponsor”). Sweepstakes Entry Period: The Sweepstakes starts at 12:00:01 AM Eastern Time (ET) September 30, 2020 and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on October 16, 2020 (“Sweepstakes Period”). Eligibility: Sweepstakes open only to legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) 18 years of age or older at time of entry....
As any gardener knows, it takes a host of specialized tools and gear—spades, trowels, shears, gloves, and the like—to do the cultivating, weeding, transplanting, and pruning that plants require. A garden shed offers a dedicated place to keep it all, plus lawn-care equipment and supplies, away from the unrelated clutter in most garages. But a shed can be much more than a mere storage locker. It can serve as a focal point on your property, adding a defining element to your garden....
Faulty wiring is a fire waiting to happen. That’s reason enough to hire an experienced electrician, but not the only one. What Does an Electrician Do? Although wiring might seem like a black-and-white proposition—either the light goes on or it doesn’t—it’s actually a vast interdependent network. Circuits that are otherwise safe but poorly designed can damage appliance motors and electronic gear because they deliver the wrong amperage. Lights on even partially overloaded circuits can flicker when an appliance is in use, or the breaker may trip or the fuse might blow, shutting down the circuit entirely....
Knowing where your property begins and ends and having the legal paperwork to prove it, will stave off stressful disputes and potential litigation between neighbors. It’s also useful information to know from an investment standpoint. For example, if you plan to sell your property, you need to know exactly what you’re selling and advertise it accurately. You also need to know the particulars to arrive at an appropriate listing price....
Steps: Start by insulating the planters with rigid foam insulation. Simply measure from the inside of the planter and then mark it on the foam. A straight edge will ensure the foam is cut perfectly. 2. Once the insulation has been cut, place it in the planters so it lines the outside edges, but not the bottom. 3. Make sure there are holes in the bottom of the planter. Cover those holes with the terracotta pot shards to protect them from being clogged....
Gasoline-powered vehicles and machines are everywhere. Though they are essential for many people to get around and get things done, the petroleum-based fuel that makes them work can be a serious health, environmental, and fire hazard if not stored and transported properly. Gasoline also has a limited useful life, so it’s important to only buy as much as you expect to use before it starts to go bad—or take steps necessary to make it last a bit longer....
Previous episode: S19 E7 | Next episode: S19 E9 In this episode: Kevin O’Connor, Richard Trethewey, Heath Eastman and Mark McCullough share some trades-related holiday nightmares from their own houses. Jenn Nawada discusses different Christmas fir tree species: Balsam, Frasier, Douglas and Concolor. Kevin explains how house fires spike in December and to use those decorations carefully because they can catch and burn quickly if candlesticks fall over. Richard explains what can and can’t go down a garbage disposal after big, holiday dinners; He also shows the difference between a 1-hp disposer and a 1/3-hp disposer....
Top 5 Hardwood Floor Cleaners Largest Bottle: Bona Refill Hardwood Floor Cleaner Best Concentrate: MURPHY Oil Soap Wood Cleaner Best Plant-Based Cleaner: Better Life Naturally Dirt-Destroying Floor Cleaner Best Polish Restorer: Weiman Hardwood Floor Cleaner and Polish Restorer Combo Best For Spot Cleaning: Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood & Laminate Floor Cleaner Largest Bottle: Bona Refill Hardwood Floor Cleaner This wood cleaner keeps your floor looking clean thanks to its pH-neutral, water-based formula that removes dust, dirt, and grime to maintain a natural shine....
